It seems Enda Horan was not the only Irishman playing rugby for Luxembourg as we received an email from Gavin Belton, a Longford man, who won his first and second caps last year, having previously played for Garryowen, Lansdowne and Greystones.
Cap this
We had another email to let us know that Ray O'Gallagher, of former UCD and Wanderers fame, is playing with Sweden and has won six caps to date.
Anyone who knows of other Irish-born players competing on behalf of another country could let us know at josullivan@irish-times.ie and we'll see if we can start a World XV.
Broc a bit Irish (not)
Now while this column is all for free enterprise it does seem a little baffling why the IRFU have turned to cafepress.com, a company located in San Leandro, California, to supply Broc (the official Ireland rugby team mascot) merchandise.
It can be accessed through the IRFU's site but the actual URL is http://www.cafeshops.com/IrishRugby. You can purchase all manner of mugs, steins and whatnot, and there is even a journal. We were intrigued by the BBQ aprons until we found our way to gifts for the lady in your life.
Purely in the name of research, we took a sneaky peak at what was on offer for the ladies.
Eh, a pair of boxer shorts ($20.99) and something called a Jr Spaghetti Tank ($21.99). That, as they say, was the whole shooting gallery. We could be wrong but we're not convinced boxer shorts would be a big hit with the ladies.
Now did we mention that everything was priced in dollars? So to order your official Broc mug or whatever, an Irish supporter has to send his credit card details to California, pay serious post, packaging, and possibly shipping costs, for an IRFU-sanctioned product.
The reaction to the shop site hasn't been that positive, if the reaction on the IRFU's own website message board is anything to go by. One extract read: "... this new shop site is a joke. Granted there may be a lot of Irish supporters not in Ireland but that does not count. You will not see dollars on the RFU site and rightly so. This shop should be housed in Ireland with Irish jobs. All prices should be in euro - give dollar prices as well if you want but they should be in euro."
A run for your money
Blackrock College coach Steve McIvor is to run the Connemara Marathon next Sunday in aid of the IRFU Charitable Trust and Focus Ireland.
Those wishing to support McIvor can make donations to him directly at 087-2322553, or by contacting Mick Quinn at the IRFU Charitable Trust or Focus Ireland directly.
Connacht's gala night Connacht Rugby will stage a gala night at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Portman Square in London on the night before the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final against Harlequins at The Stoop on April 10th.
The occasion should prove attractive not only to the hundreds of supporters travelling over for the match but also to the large Irish community in London. Already the response to a poster campaign in Irish pubs and clubs in London has been very good, with the £20 tickets being sold on a first-come basis. This included entry to a raffle where the top prize is a Saturday night stay for two at the Radisson in Portman Square, with dinner.
The prize, worth over £500, also includes theatre tickets to the Abba musical Mama Mia. Another prize, which should appeal to the Irish community in London, is a weekend for two at the Radisson SAS in Galway.
There will also be signed Connacht rugby jerseys and match balls for winners on the night.
A Connacht Rugby merchandise store will be set up in the ballroom. Tickets are available from the Connacht Branch (00353 91 561568), the Radisson SAS, Portman Square (0044 207 208 6000) and online at www.connachtrugby.ie.
Meanwhile, there are still a number of travel packages available from Keller Travel, Ballinasloe, the official Connacht Rugby travel agents, for supporters wishing to go to London for the first leg.
Details are available on the Connacht website www.connachtrugby.ie or directly from Keller Travel on 09096 42131
Gas tickets
Okay this is definitely, positively the last Ireland-England match joke.
Three Irishmen and three Englishmen are travelling by train to a match in Twickenham. At the station, the three Englishmen each buy a ticket and watch as the three Irishmen buy just one ticket between them.
"How are the three of you going to travel on only one ticket?" asks one of the English. "Watch and learn," answers one of the Irish. They all board the train.
The English take their seats but all three Irish cram into a toilet and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed the conductor arrives to collect the tickets. He knocks on the toilet door and says: "Ticket please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The Englishmen are mightily impressed, so after the game, they decide to copy the Irish on the return trip and save some money.
When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip . . . To their astonishment, the Irish don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" asks one perplexed Englishman.
"Watch and learn..." says one of the Irish. When they board the train the three Irish cram into a toilet and soon after the three English pile into another nearby.
The train departs. Shortly afterwards, one of the Irish trio leaves the toilet and sneaks across to the toilet where the English triumvirate are hiding. He knocks on the door and says: "Ticket please . . ."
